Longtime Schuyler County football coach Bob Lee dies at 74

Chase Elliott leads the field at the green flag on his way to a repeat in the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 4, 2019.
Andrew Legare, alegare@stargazette.com | @SGAndrewLegare

Bob Lee, whose extensive coaching career included stints as varsity football head coach at Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour, died Monday at age 74.

Lee, who lived in Watkins Glen, was at home surrounded by family when he died, according to his obituary.

Lee had two stints as head varsity football coach at Watkins Glen covering 11 seasons, the first from 1985 to 1992, and the second from 2002 to 2004. He was a longtime assistant coach for the Senecas before that.

He later coached Odessa-Montour from 2011 to 2014, the final four seasons for the program before it combined with Watkins Glen. Lee was an assistant coach for the Seneca Indians under Trevor Holland from 2016 to 2018.

Lee was girls varsity basketball coach at Watkins Glen in the late 1980s and early 1990s and coached boys basketball at Bradford High School earlier this decade. He also coached the junior varsity football team at Elmira Notre Dame and coached the Crystal City Dragons and Southern Tier Warriors semipro football teams.

Bob Lee coaches the Odessa-Montour varsity football team in 2013.(Photo: File photo)

Lee, born in Geneva before graduating from Watkins Glen High School, was employed for 35 years as a recreational therapist at Willard and the Elmira Psychiatric Center. His community service included mayor of Watkins Glen and village police officer. He served in the U.S. Army after he was drafted in 1966.

He is survived by Laura, his wife of 39 years, along with children Stephen Lee of Watkins Glen, Kevin Lee of Lodi and Virginia Lee of Lodi.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, 212 E. 4th St., Watkins Glen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Aug. 30 at St. Mary's of the Lake Church, 905 N. Decatur St., Watkins Glen. Burial and military honors will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.